ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1939, Page 2

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

SPEECH BY MR. COBBE.

guaranteed price opposed

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, July 13

Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Mr. J.-G. Cobbe (Nat., Orua), speaking on the Address-in-Reply, said the Member for Gisborne (Mr. D. W. Coleman, Govt.), had stated in; the course of his address that the sheepfarmers in his district were almost universally in favour of a guaranteed price for ..wool. Ho (Mr. Cobbe) did not know what right the honourable member had to make that statement. Personally, he (Mr. Cobbe) was of opinion that Gisborne farmers would be the last in New Zealand to want a guaranteed price. A Government member interjected: “Would you oppose it?” Mr. Cobbe: “Certainly, I would. Gisborne farmers are men of common sense, and can see the disabilities' of the guaranteed price.” He 'continued that the Government had crashed badly so far as the finances of the country were concerned, and seemed to think it could spend its: way to prosperity. New Zealand farmers were disheartened, and iverc overcome by high taxation. They were worried about ever-increasing taxation, increasing freight rates, and increased interest charges. He went on to criticise the Government’s marketing and transport legislation, and said there were many measures which Labour had placed on the Statute Book from which the people had no right of appeal to the courts. We were a free-dom-loving people, he concluded. The Kuku farmers had shown that in their opposition to eviction from their farms. “FINANCIALLY SO.UND” Mr. C. R. Petrie (Govt., Hauraki), declared that the country was sound financially and economically. There was more well-being among the people than ever before. Financial in stitutions had ample reserves for de-, •velopment, ■ and every one of them had a healthy balance-'sheet for the year ended March 31 last. If the members of the'Opposition wanted to know why the Government had introduced sterling control and. import selection. it was because the Government had to bring about more-balanced, production in this country, and keep an equilibrium in the trading position. It had to keep faith' with oversea creditors, and protect the standard of living in this country. The Opposition wanted the banks to control the- position, but this was the Government’s responsibility, and it could; not hand it Over to them. The country had lived beyoitd its income for many years in the past, and had had to borrow consistently in the past to correct its trading position. Those were the debts which were with US' to-day, and which constituted such a. heavy burden on production. NATIVE AFFAIRS. Air. E. T. Tirikatene (Govt., Southern Maori) paid a tribute to the Gov-ernor-General’s and Lady Galway’3 kindness to the Maori people, and expressed regret at their impending departure for the Old Country. When he listened to the Opposition’s criticism of the Government, he said, he was tempted to compare the conditions of the Maoris under the late National Government with those existing to-dlay. They had to take their hats off to the present’ Administration for what it had done for the Maoris, and, while giving credit to past Govern ments for their attempts to better the lot of the native race, he contended that the Maori would be following the moa to extinction in another ten years, had the past Government's native affairs policy been allowed to continue.

The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m

SHEEPFARMERS’ TROUBLES

Mr. A. N. Grigg (Nat., Mid-Canter-bury) spoke when the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Grigg, who was making his maiden speech, said* that the position of farmers, especially sheepfarmers was particularly serious. He said that while the price of wool was only one per cent, higher now than it was in 1914, farm costs had risen 50 per cent, above the 1914 level. It was easy to> see where- the. sheepfarmer’s trouble was; in addition to this, was the fact that the store sheep market had had! the bottom knocked out of it. The Prime Minister said that the cure was 1 a guaranteed price for wool, but the sheepfarmer was not' convinced that he could get more- for his wool than it was l worth. Government speakers had said that a guaranteed price for wool had been turned down through political motives, but the sheepfarmer was in too great straits to-day to- let that influence him. He had seen the working of the dairy scheme, and he saw that the whole system was cracking. Was there any wonder that he was not prepared to take the risk, involved? Mr. Grigg continued that import restrictions, at first, might appear only to affect the towns, but he maintained that they have a serious affect on the. country also. ‘■DEPRESSION COMPLEX.’* The complaint (hat (lie political outlook of the members of the Opposition was dominated) by a depression complex, when, on all sides, there were reasons for being cheerful, was made by Rev. F. L. Frost (Govt., New Plymouth) who was also making his maiden speech. Ho contended tha.', if tho Opposition had searched the dictionary for words of woe, they could not' have found 1 a more effective collection than they had: put together in their “no-confidence" amendment. Referring to some of the reasons 1 for adopting a cheerful attitude, Mr. Frost quoted the population statistics, and said that between March. 1935, and March, 1939, the population of the Dominion. had risen from 1,437,000 to 1,624,714. In the year ended March. 1.939, the arrivals in the country had exceeded the departures by more than 10,000. In the year ended March, 1935, he said, 1579 immigrants arrived in Now Zealand, but that, in March; of this year the number had risen to 6493 immigrants. People did not rush, he said, to (he country which was the poorest in the- world, but to one which had a. good Government, a good climate, and opportunities for advancement. More people were now coming to New Zealand, and more New Zealanders wore being born hertz.

LAHO 11R. DIFFERENCES. Mr. J. A. Lee (Govt., Grey Lynn) stated that he would, not. pretend that he would not indulge ini recriminations at times. During the election cam paign perhaps none so much as himself was a target for. the Nationalists, and the iniquities of Leo were blazoned forth in that Party’® advertising propaganda. What counted in the final analysis, however, was which policy tho people stood for. Mr. Lee proceeded to make an oblique reference to differences in the Parliamentary Labour Party. His remarks were greeted by laughter and consistent heckling from the Opposition. “We are enforcing exchange control,” said Air. Lee, “even with all of our family differences.” Mr. S. G. Holland (Nat., Christchurch. North): “Differences is right!” (Laughter). Air. Lee: “When we live in tho same house we must'occasionally exchange —”

Opposition interjection: “Courtesies!”

Mr. Lee: “Yes, and, occasionally, invective. But in exchange control and in import selection and the building up of New Zealand to the best of our capacity to produce, and not to depend on a London price level, there is unanimity.”

Air. Lee vigorously defended the Government’s policy of import selection and exchange control, ami said that the Labour Government refused to base the welfare of New Zealand on the'-varagies of oversea prices. The Government would defend the people of New Zealand, eVen against bondholders, who had raided the sterling funds. The external funds of New Zealand belonged to the people, and not to a few gangsters. 1 The House rose at 10.30 p.ni.

INTERESTING', QUESTIONS

WELLINGTON, July 13

The conditions under which certain persons employed by the Government are working in Wellington were the' subject of a question of which Air. S. G. Holland (Nat.,,Christchurch North) gave notice to-day. Air. Holland will ask the ActingMinister of Finance (Mr. Savage) whether he is aware that many of the several hundred persons employed by tlie Government in the Ford building, Wellington, are required to work overtime on up to four nights each week, at an hourly rate' of pay less than the ordinary rate; that these persons are not paid tea money when' required to work overtime; that overtime earned on May 2 was not' paid until .Tune !); and that overtime earned on Alay 30 has not yet been paid. . Lt is Mr. Holland's intention to ask further, whether Air. Savage is aware that the building in which they work is of concrete construction, and that many workers are required to work on concrete floors, without any heating arrangements. He will also inquire whether the Government is satisfied that thelse conditions should continue. The statement that 5.00' official visitors were to be brought to New Zealand by the Government for the Centennial celebrations, which was> made at a recent meeting of women in Palmerston North, Was brought to the notice of the authorities by Air. J. Hodgens (Govt., Palmerston North), in notice of a question. He also drew the attention of the Minister for Internal Affairs (Air. Parry) to the statement that these visitors’ were to visit the tourist resorts of the Dominion, and that all their expenses: would be paid by the Government. A request for the introduction of regulations to govern the standard content and weight of wholemeal’ bread was contained in a question of which Air. W. ,T. Lyon. (Govt.. Waitemata), gave notice. He will ask the Minister for Industries and Commerce (Mr. Sullivan) whether, inf view of the popular demand for a properly balanced; diet and the use of wholemeal bread, he will introduce regulationsi to govern the standard weight and content of this bread to make it possible for families on the lower income scale to have the diet they desire. An investigation to determine if the present price of potatoes was in any way due to excessive middleman’s profit or to speculation was requested by Dr. D. G.. McAlillan (Government, Dunedin West). Dr. McMillan intends to ask the Alinister for Industries and Commerce if he will inquire if it is possible to obtain a reduction in the price of this commodity. The possibility of the Education Department undertaking the responsibility for claims against teachers arising from accidents in school rooms' or playground's was suggested in a question to the Alinister for Education, of which Mr T. H. AlcCombs (Government, Lyttelton) gave notice. Air AleCombs will ask: (1) If the Education Department will undertake to cover the liability of secondary and technical school teachers for all claims against them by pupils arising from accidents in classroom or playground, and (2) If the Education Department will undertake to compensate these teachers for any injury, whether there is negligence ’or not, which arises through their employment as teachers.

TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.

GUARANTEED PRICE PLEBISCITE?

WELLINGTON. July 14

When (ho House met at 10.30 a.m., Mi 1 . Meachen gave notice l to ask the Minister of Agriculture l .if the Government would consider acquiring land in the Blenheim district, for the purpose of closer settlement, and for the production of vegetables for tho Wellington. market.

Mr. Hargest gave notice to ask the Minister of Social Security if he were aware that seasonal workers applying for relief were compelled to submit by departmental officers to a means test. In. an urgent question to the Prime Minister. Mr. Barroll asked whether, in view of the statements at Farmers’ Union meetings, and also by the Opposition in the House from time to time, that tho dairy industry was dissatisfied with the. guaranteed price, the Goveinment would take a plebiscite among the dairy farmers themselves, to determine, the number who were opposed, io the guaranteed price- system.

Mr. Savage, replying, said that it would ho impossible for any Government to disregard the statements made against, guaranteed: prices, inside and outside the House. Members had claimed that the farming districts had voted against guaranteed prices, by sending opponent's of the system to Parliament.. There would appear to be something in that, and 1 if the dairy farmers thought they could 1 do better under (lie old system of rising and’ falling prices, it would be- the duty of t’ue Government to devisee ways and means for meeting them. The matter

would bo fully considered by ibe Government, at an early date. VOLUNTARY TRAINING. Tho Address-in-Reply debate was continued by Mr. Loe, whose speech was interrupted by the rising of the House, last evening. Mr. Lee declared that ho was not one of those who believed that an invasion of New Zealand was likely. There was, however, always the possibility of a raid. To talk about invasion was merely to create a fantastic bogey, and ho believed that New Zealand’s resisting equipment, if something untoward did occur, was sufficient for us to give a good account of ourselves. He was confident, he said, that tho Government would be able to enrol more l than the 1(1,000 territorials required, by the voluntary system. Ho felt that., if tho voluntary scheme wore to succeed, the public must, he proud; of the men, who should bo paraded in. public, ami not in the back streets, lie did not visualise at the moment that tho territorials would be called upon to defend anything more than New Zealand, but, in the' event of an emergency arising, the Government of the day and tho people of tho country would determine what should bo done. Air. .lull reminded members that the House was a broadcasting station, where some listeners had the chance of talking back. Air. Lee, he said, had been •making an appeal to all members of the House to assist recruiting. That was a laudable thing to do, but he added, “I am on thin ice,here, for 1 know nothing about defence. In the last, war, I. was in.what was called the national reserve. I got as far as forming fours. Now they are forming threes, and lam gone.” (Laughter). HOUSING POLICY Referring to the Government’s housing policy, Air. Jull said that the houses being built were good, but, in requiring all heart timber, the specifications were a little extravagant. They would lead to the wastage ? of millions of feet of timber every year. Air. AlcCombs: Would you say that the houses are too good? Air. .lull: I would say that the houses are not too good for a working man. They are too dear, that’s all. It is a bit like a working man’s wife looking at a forty-guinea fur coat in a shop window. She knows that it is not too good for her, but that it is too dear. (Laughter). / Air. .lull added that he would venture on a prophecy that'the Government had £ 2,800,000 worth of gold, bought at the old rate, and he visualised the Prime Alinister having it assessed \at present-day values, to enable the Reserve Bank to lend him another £10,000,000. It would be another round of the hurdy-gurdy, he said. What the Government wanted was confidence, he added. SOIL EROSION. Mr. Cotterill said that he had been very interested in the report of the committee set up to consider soil erosion throughout New Zealand, and he expressed the hope that the Government would adopt the committee’s recommendations. There had been very serious erosion in the back country of Wanganui, and he was of the opinion that the problem was one of the most important which fa,ced the Government. Mr. Cotterill also paid a tribute to the effort which, had been made throughout the season to teach people to swim. One of the greatest dif- ’ Acuities which had been experienced in the learn-to-swim campaign was the lack of proper training facilities in country centres, and he thought the Government should be prepared to assist the people in ..country centres to secure such facilities.

-The'ltouse adjourned at 1 p.m